Method, system and apparatus for determining geofence data based on estimated time of arrival

Abstract

An apparatus, method, and system for determining geofence data based on estimated time of arrival are provided. At a computing device, geofence data is determined, wherein geographic boundaries associated with the geofence data are based on a given estimated time of arrival (ETA) from one of the given location and a current location of a handheld communication device. Given location data associated with the given location is transmitted to the handheld communication device, via a communication interface, when the current location of the handheld communication device and the given location are each within the geographic boundaries such that the handheld communication device is transportable to the given location within the given estimated time of arrival.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A computing device comprising:
 a memory; 
 a communication interface configured to communicate with a handheld communication device; and 
 a processor configured to:
 determine geographic boundaries comprising a polygon with sides that extend along roads, the geographic boundaries based on a given estimated time of arrival (ETA) along the roads from one of a given location and a current location of the handheld communication device; and 
 transmit to the handheld communication device, via the communication interface, given location data, associated with a given location, when the current location of the handheld communication device and the given location are each within the geographic boundaries. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the given ETA is one of: from the given location to the current location; and from the current location to the given location. 
     
     
       3. The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the memory stores registration data associated with the handheld communication device, and the processor is further configured to transmit the given location data only when the registration data is indicative that the handheld communication device is registered to receive data associated with the given location. 
     
     
       4. The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the given location data comprises offer data associated with the given location. 
     
     
       5. The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to transmit the given location data in a push operation. 
     
     
       6. The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 receive, via the communication interface, search parameters from the handheld communication device; and 
 produce the given location data based on the search parameters, the given location data comprising only search results associated with given locations within the geographic boundaries, including the given location, wherein the given ETA is from the current location to the given location. 
 
     
     
       7. The computing device of  claim 6 , wherein the search results are sorted according to a respective ETA associated with each of the given locations. 
     
     
       8. The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to transmit to the handheld communication device, via the communication interface, the given location data in a pull operation. 
     
     
       9. The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the geographic boundaries are based on one or more of present traffic conditions, historical traffic conditions, data received from a map server, and data received from a traffic server. 
     
     
       10. A method comprising:
 determining, at a computing device in communication with a handheld communication device, geographic boundaries comprising a polygon with sides that extend along roads, the geographic boundaries based on a given estimated time of arrival (ETA) along the roads from one of a given location and a current location of the handheld communication device; and 
 transmitting to the handheld communication device, via a communication interface at the communication device, given location data, associated with a given location, when the current location of the handheld communication device and the given location are each within the geographic boundaries. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , wherein, the given ETA is one of: from the given location to the current location; and from the current location to the given location. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 10 , wherein a memory of the computing device stores registration data associated with the handheld communication device, and the method further comprises transmitting the given location data only when the registration data is indicative that the handheld communication device is registered to receive data associated with the given location. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the given location data comprises offer data associated with the given location. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 10 , further comprising transmitting the given location data in a push operation. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 receiving, via the communication interface, search parameters from the handheld communication device; and 
 producing the given location data based on the search parameters, the given location data comprising only search results associated with given locations within the geographic boundaries, including the given location, wherein the given ETA is from the current location to the given location. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the search results are sorted according to a respective ETA associated with each of the given locations. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 10 , further comprising transmitting to the handheld communication device, via the communication interface, the given location data in a pull operation. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the geographic boundaries are based on one or more of present traffic conditions, historical traffic conditions, data received from a map server, and data received from a traffic server. 
     
     
       19. A computer program product, comprising a non-transitory computer usable medium having a computer readable program code adapted to be executed to implement a method comprising:
 determining, at a computing device in communication with a handheld communication device, geographic boundaries comprising a polygon with sides that extend along roads, the geographic boundaries based on a given estimated time of arrival (ETA) along the roads from one of a given location and a current location of the handheld communication device; and 
 transmitting to the handheld communication device, via a communication interface at the communication device, given location data, associated with a given location, when the current location of the handheld communication device and the given location are each within the geographic boundaries.